'It's a historic storm,' Remembering the Barrie tornado 38 years later
May 31, 1985, started like any other day in Barrie, but all that changed later that afternoon when the sky changed colour, suddenly and without warning, plunging the city into chaos.
With wind speeds topping 400 kilometres per hour, the F4 tornado cut a path through the heart of Barrie, leaving destruction in its wake.
The tornado's impact was swift and severe.
Entire neighbourhoods were reduced to rubble, with houses torn apart, trees uprooted, vehicles tossed, and lives forever changed.
Pictures from the Barrie tornado in 1985 (Courtesy: Frank Callaghan)
The widespread devastation left a lasting mark on the city's landscape and residents.
Environment Canada says 14 tornados, including the one in Barrie, swept Central Ontario over six hours on May 31, 1985.
When the clouds finally shifted and the winds calmed, the long and arduous road to recovery began.
Firefighters were among the first to arrive at the scene of the devastation.
"I thought a bomb had dropped or something," Jim Lemieux, deputy fire chief in 1985, said in a 2015 interview.
Neighbours helped neighbours, strangers reached out to lend a hand, and emergency responders worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and provide aid.
"It was amazing how a community could pull together in an emergency. Everybody in the community did what they had to do," Lemieux added.
The spirit of community solidarity shone amidst the darkness that had engulfed the city.
Pictures from the Barrie tornado in 1985 (Courtesy: Frank Callaghan)
In the immediate aftermath of the tornado, shelters were set up, and relief efforts were launched to provide food, clothing, and support to those affected.
As the days turned into weeks and months, the focus shifted towards rebuilding the city and restoring a traumatized community.
In all, 12 people lost their lives that fateful day, including eight in Barrie, two in Grand Valley, and two in Tottenham. Over 150 people were injured.
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) said it was the worst tornado to ever touch down in Central Ontario.
"It’s a historic storm. We haven’t had an F4 in Ontario since that time. So that tells you how rare these things are," said NTP executive director Dr. David Sills.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.